With National Baby Safety Month comes conversations about car seats and seatbelts, BPA-free bottles and sleeping habits. While these are important topics to cover with new parents, it’s equally as important to recognize that infant safety and parental well-being are closely connected. New parents deserve reliable safety information and compassionate support for their own mental health.
Jamesha Bryant, a nurse home visitor with Acenda’s Nurse Family Partnership program, offered some thoughts on safety-conscious versus anxious parents, building confidence while managing common parenting worries, along with some advice on how to preserve your well-being while caring for your little one.
Building Safety Confidence
As a new parent, your child’s safety and health are understandably among your greatest concerns. Some worry is common as families adjust to new responsibilities, disrupted sleep and significant physical and emotional changes. Reliable information and support can help parents feel more confident and less overwhelmed.
“When a parent feels confident about safety, they are usually more relaxed, calm and assured,” Bryant said. “Confident parenting helps teach resilience and allows the child to explore as they learn.”
By taking advantage of the resources, knowledge and support available to them, new parents can feel more prepared to protect their child without being overbearing.
Understanding Common Infant Safety Concerns
Learning about evidenced based precautions can help parents focus on practical steps that reduce risk. Bryant pointed out the following as safety concerns to watch out for:
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): Safe sleep practices can help prevent SIDS. Follow the ABCs of sleeping to help protect your child:
- A: Your baby should sleep ALONE
- B: Your baby should sleep on their BACK
- C: You baby should sleep in a CRIB with a firm mattress and only a fitted sheet
Choking: New parents might fear that their baby could choke as they being to introduce solids. Before doing so, consult your pediatrician on how/when/what to start. And always avoid: popcorn, whole grapes, nuts/seeds, marshmallows, thick peanut butter, honey and hard candy.
Illness with High Fever: According to Mayo Clinic, you can use following guide to know when to call your pediatrician:
- Under 3 Months Old: Call for any fever
- 3 to 6 Months Old: Call for a fever over 100.4 degree Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius)
- 6 to 24 Months Old: Call for a fever more than 100.4 degree Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) and lasting more than one day
- Note: Use your judgment if you feel your baby is in need of medical care without meeting the criteria above.
Water Safety and Drowning: Never leave your baby alone around any amount of water make sure bathroom doors are closed and pools are gated to prevent your child from wandering in.
Seeing as the above are cause for concern with babies and young children, Bryant also pointed out the next few common safety fears that are not worth the worry:
Immunizations: There is always varying information about the pros and cons of vaccinations in mainstream media. Rather than let media headlines inform your decisions, do your own research about immunizations and listen to your child’s pediatrician.
Noisy Breathing as a Newborn: Grunting, snorting, snoring and louder breathing sounds are normal as newborns learn to clear their tiny airways.
Feeling Inadequate: Worrying about your child’s safety shows you want to do your best. This builds a trusting and loving bond. Lean on your support system if needed for validation and encouragement.
Reliable guidance and a strong support system can help you care for your baby while also protecting your own well-being.
When Worry Begins to Feel Overwhelming
It is not always easy to determine whether a concern requires immediate attention or whether anxiety is making a situation feel more threatening. Parents do not need to make that determination alone. If you are concerned about your baby’s health or safety, contact your child’s healthcare provider.
“Your gut feeling will be a quiet inner knowing coming as a warning or caution to danger or red flags,” Bryant said. “Anxiety is loud, sometimes irrational, and produced by fear. A gut feeling can calm you, while anxiety can lead to overthinking of worse-case scenarios.”
Keeping that difference in mind when you’re making decisions about your baby’s health, wellness or safety is critical to holding your worries at bay and leaning into your parental instincts.
When to Seek Professional Support
Worry can be common during the transition to parenthood. If fear or anxiety becomes persistent, feels overwhelming or interferes with sleep, daily life or your ability to care for yourself or your baby, it may be time to seek professional support.
“When safety-related anxiety becomes obsessive and involves consistent, excessive worry, that’s a sign your worry has crossed into something more,” Bryant said. “These conditions go beyond a normal fear of keeping your child safe. Symptoms of postpartum struggles can include heart racing, panic attacks, dizziness, intense worry, and sometimes intrusive negative thoughts, making it difficult for the parent to effectively care for their child.”
If worry is overtaking your daily life, reach out to your healthcare provider or a mental health professional. Programs like Acenda’s Nurse Family Partnership provide professional support to care for you and your child as you navigate this new journey.
Moving Forward
In honor of Baby Safety Month, Acenda is proud to spotlight our maternal health services and clinicians, like Jamesha Bryant, who work tirelessly to serve parents and children throughout our community. We want families to have the information, care and encouragement they need to feel supported throughout early parenthood.
“Remember, you and your baby are learning together,” Bryant said. “Listen to and trust your intuition; you know what’s best for your baby.”
FAQs
“Your gut feeling will be a quiet inner knowing coming as a warning or caution to danger or red flags,” said Jamesha Bryant, a nurse home visitor with Acenda’s Nurse Family Partnership program. “Anxiety is loud, sometimes irrational, and produced by fear. A gut feeling can calm you, while anxiety can lead to overthinking of worse-case scenarios.”
“When safety-related anxiety becomes obsessive and involves consistent, excessive worry, that’s a sign your worry has crossed into something more,” said Jamesha Bryant, a nurse home visitor with Acenda’s Nurse Family Partnership program.
You can head to Acenda’s New and Expecting Parents page for all of our parental and maternal health programs.
To learn more about our Maternal Health programs, click the button below.
New & Expecting Parent ProgramsAbout the Authors
Jamesha Bryant, BS, BSN, is a nurse home visitor with the Nurse Family Partnership program. She received her bachelor’s in biology from Rowan University and her bachelor’s in nursing from Drexel University. With nearly a decade of nursing experience, Bryant is passionate about the women’s and maternal health field. She has worked at Acenda since 2021.
Riley de Jong, the Content & Engagement Strategist with Acenda’s Brand, Marketing & Engagement team, attended the University of California – Los Angeles for her undergraduate degree in Communication and minor in Entrepreneurship. She enjoys supporting her community, telling engaging stories, and connecting with others.
